Eyes

Eyediseasesmay be classified as congenitalandacquired,infectiousandnoninfectious,acuteandchronic,andunilateralandbilateral.Eyediseasesmayarise as a result of generalizeddisease of thebody,includinginfectiousdiseases(tuberculosis,syphilis,rheumatism,influenza,diphtheria,typhus,typhoid,andothers),parasiticdiseases(varioushelminths,forexample,echinococci),endocrinologic(diabetesmellitus) or vascular(hypertension)diseases,blooddiseases(leukemia),tumors(cancer,sarcoma),anddisorders of thecentralnervoussystem(meningitis,braintumors);eyediseasesmay be a result of theextension of a processfromneighboringareas(fromaccessoryareas of thenose,sinusitis,forexample).Morerarely,primaryeyediseases(intraocularmalignanttumorswith a tendency to metastasis)may be thesource of disease of thewholebody. A fundamentalrole in thedevelopment of eyediseasesduringgeneralizedaffection of thebodybelongs to endogenic(internal)factors.Amongtheexogenic(external)causescapable of producingeyediseases,those of greatestsignificancearethecausativeagents of infectionsenteringtheeye,mechanicaltraumas,chemicals,(acids,alkalis),andphysicalfactors(heat,light,radioactivity). A number of eyediseases—glaucoma,serioustraumasandburns of theeyes,retinaldetachment,atrophy of theopticnerve,andtrachoma,forexample—maylead to blindness.Thedistributionandcharacter of eyediseasesdepends on theinfluence of social,geographic,andclimaticfactors,theconditions of everydaylife,andtheorganizationalsystem of therapeuticandprophylacticcare of thepopulace.Thestudy of eyediseases is ophthalmology.

Eyes

1. Dry Eye -associated with Sjogren's Syndrome, Graves Disease/Hashimoto's Disease, and Lupus, millions of Americans suffer from dry eye. There are two main causes: decreased secretion of tears by the lacrimal (tear-producing) glands and loss of tears due to excess evaporation. Both can lead to ocular surface discomfort, often described as feelings of dryness, burning, a sandy/gritty sensation, or itchiness. Visual fatigue, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision are also characteristic of dry eye.

Normal healthy tears contain a complex mixture of proteins and other components that are essential for ocular health and comfort

Tears are important because they:

Provide nutrients and support the health of cells in the cornea.

Lubricate the ocular surface.

Protect the exposed surface of the eye from infections.

Eye problems are more common for people with Graves' disease, but some people with Hashimoto's may also get them.

Blepharitis: Inflammation of the eyelids, often decreasing secretions from meibomian glands. Excess evaporation of tears can result, leading to dry eye.

Cornea: The clear dome on the front of the eye that covers the pupil and iris. Clear vision depends on a healthy, undamaged cornea.

Lacrimal glands: Glands that secrete the water and most of the important proteins in tears.

Puncta: Small openings on the eyelids into which tears normally drain.

Meibomian glands: Glands in the eyelids that secrete oils. These oils form a thin layer on top of the tear film, retarding evaporation.

Tear film: Protects and lubricates the cornea and the rest of the ocular surface. Natural tears are mostly water containing a complex mixture of proteins and other components.

Wear sunglasses. When your eyes protrude, they're more vulnerable to ultraviolet rays and more sensitive to bright light. Wearing sunglasses that wrap around the sides of your head will also lessen the irritation of your eyes from the wind.

Use lubricating eyedrops. Eyedrops may relieve the dry, scratchy sensation on the surface of your eyes. A paraffin-based gel, such as Lacri-Lube, can be applied at night.

4. Nystagmus or jerking, rapid involuntary eye movement -Nystagmus is the medical term used to describe involuntary eye movements. These eye movements may be side-to-side (lateral nystagmus), up and down (vertical nystagmus), or rotary. This occurrence can be seen in Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism.

Nystagmus may be optokinetic (eye related) or vestibular (inner-ear related), and it can be either congenital (present at birth) or acquired due to injury or disease. In most cases it appears during infancy or childhood, but it can develop in adulthood. Nystagmus can be caused by:

Abnormal function in the part of the brain that controls your eye movements

A problem with the neural pathway between the eye and brain

A problem affecting the labyrinth (the part of the inner ear that senses movement and position)

Nystagmus can also be associated with other eye conditions, including:

Anirida—the absence of an iris (the colored part of the eye)

Congenital cataracts

Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia, a type of paralysis of certain eye muscles

Coloboma, a type of eyeball deformity

Duane syndrome, a rare disorder of the eye muscles

Here is a list and brief description of the different types of nystagmus:

Latent: Symptoms worsen when one eye is covered.

Manifest: Symptoms are present at all times.

Fixation: Occurs only when the eyes attempt to focus on an object

Vestibular: Typically caused by disease of the vestibular apparatus of the ear, or due to normal stimuli produced when the semicircular canals are tested by the rotation of the body.

Postrotatory: This is a form of vestibular nystagmus and occurs when the body is rotated and then stopped. For example, picture someone who is spinning in a chair then abruptly stops themselves.

Miner’s: This form of the condition occurs in those who work in darkness for long periods.

Seesaw: This involves the in-turning eye moving up and the opposite eye moving down, then both eyes moving in opposite directions.

5. Optic Neuritis, inflammation of the nerves in the eye -seen in Multiple Sclerosis sometimes your immune system attacks the fatty coating called myelin that covers and protects your optic nerve. When the myelin is damaged or missing, your optic nerve can't send the right signals to your brain. This can lead to changes in your vision.

Optic neuritis is one of the most common symptoms of the relapsing-remitting form of MS. But it can also happen when you take certain medications or if you have diabetes. It’s also linked to neuromyelitis optica (NMO), or Devic's disease. This autoimmune disorder causes immune system cells and antibodies to attack your optic nerves, spinal cord, and, sometimes, your brain.

This condition usually comes on quickly, over a few hours or days. You may notice some of these symptoms:

Pain when you move your eyes

Blurred vision

Loss of color vision

Trouble seeing to the side

A hole in the center of your vision

Blindness in rare cases

Headache -- a dull ache behind your eyes

Adults usually get optic neuritis in only one eye, but children may have it in both.

6.Unclear or double vision - (Graves' Disease / Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis) About 30 percent of people with Graves' disease show some signs and symptoms of a condition known as Graves' ophthalmopathy. In Graves' ophthalmopathy, inflammation and other immune system events affect muscles and other tissues around your eyes.

Some people might have a little redness and minor pain, while others have strong swelling, dryness, and more severe pain. It’s also possible to have bulging eyes -- because your muscles swell and your eyes are pushed out -- and pressure may build up in your eye socket. In rare cases, you can have double vision or other problems with your sight.

The resulting signs and symptoms may include:

Bulging eyes (exophthalmos)

Gritty sensation in the eyes

Pressure or pain in the eyes

Puffy or retracted eyelids

Reddened or inflamed eyes

Light sensitivity

Double vision

Vision loss

Diplopia, or double vision, occurs when the pair of muscles that control a particular eye movement are not perfectly coordinated due to weakness in one or both pairs of muscles. When the images are not properly fused, the person perceives a false double image. Double vision may increase with fatigue or overuse of the eyes (e.g., with extended reading or computer work), and improve with rest. Resting the eyes periodically throughout the day can be beneficial.

Diplopia usually resolves without treatment. In some cases, a brief course of corticosteroids may be helpful. Patching one eye can also be useful for driving or other short tasks, but is not recommended for long periods of time since it will slow the brain's ability to accommodate to the problem. Special lenses are rarely recommended because the symptom tends to be transitory.

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